William Thomas Wells
January 27, 1920 - February 3, 2007
Born in Longstreet, Louisiana, to Maidee Word and Robert Homer Wells
BS, Chemical Engineering, Louisiana Tech
Masters, Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech
Retired after 40 years with Gulf Oil/Chevron - Plant management/Director Energy Conservation
Wife: Lois Lefkowsky Wells
Sisters: Doris Wells McMillan, Jane Wells Bass (dcd); Brother: Word Holley Wells
Children: Carol Wells, Rick Wells, Sharon Wells McMahon and husband Bryan J. McMahon
Grandchildren: Eugene, Sam, Kate McMahon; Dakota Wells
Glacier Park 1939
New Orleans Honeymoon 1954
Toledo 1957
Gulf Oil ad 1979
Galveston 1980s
Springtime in Alto 1995
Grandpa and Katy
feeding the birds 2005At Grandparent's Day last year in Long Beach, my Dad was participating in a question and answer session with grandson Sam in his fourth-grade class. To the question, "What is your proudest accomplishment?" he responded, "Providing for my family." And that he did.
He and my Mom showed us the world, literally. We traveled abroad through his work with Gulf Oil, and traveled the U.S. on summer vacations. My Dad loved the West. Mountains and big sky. His favorite movie was the quietly powerful "Bad Day at Black Rock."
From my Dad I learned integrity. If someone gave him too much change at the store, he would point out the error and return it. He instilled in me a love for the outdoors and gardening. He said "howdy" to everyone he passed on the street. He ended conversations with strangers by saying "Good luck to you."
I had the honor of eating breakfast with him almost every day these past few years. We would discuss the morning news over a weekly rotation of eggs and biscuits, oatmeal, and pancakes that he would cook. Breakfast was his favorite meal.
The only time I ever heard him cuss was while watching football on t.v. and at the Bush administration. He felt deep sorrow for the soldiers killed or injured in Iraq and worried about their families.
He followed with great interest not only the lives of his children and grandchildren, but also of his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed his trips to Louisiana and time spent with his sister, Doris and brother, Holley.
I can highly recommend my Dad's philosophy: Eat a good breakfast, never stop learning, and be kind to one another.
Carol Wells
February 26, 2007
